Papua New Guinea beat Nepali national cricket team by 70 runs in the first match of the World Cup Qualifying Series Division II played at Kebab Aman in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, on Monday.
Elected to bat first, PNG scored 240 runs losing 8 wickets playing the allotted 50 overs while the Nepali team ended up with 170/9. PNG batsman Jamie Brazier who mustered 97 runs and three wickets was declared man of the match.
For Nepal, Paras Khadka scored a half-century in 80 balls while Shakti Gauchan and Dhirendra Chand took three wickets each. Captain Binod Das made 18 runs while Manoj Vaishya clinched 37.
Monday’s loss has hardened Nepal’s fight for place in the ICC World Cup and has to win the next two matches with Kuwait and Italy. On Tuesday, Nepal plays with Kuwait. nepalnews.com mbk Feb 22 05